Ball launching game having common target apertures

ABSTRACT

A skill type game which includes a pair of spaced launching devices selectively operable by individual players of the game for propelling a plurality of objects either individually or simultaneously outwardly therefrom toward the other launching device. Each launching device has positions for receiving a plurality of objects, such as spherical projectiles, the positions defining home positions for the other launching device whereby the object of the game may be to accumulate all of the objects at the other player&#39;&#39;s launching position. A barrier, such as a wall, is disposed between the launching devices, the wall having a plurality of openings to restrict the number of objects which can pass therethrough at any one time. The openings are less in number than the total number of objects capable of being propelled by both of the launching devices at any one time.

United States Patent [151 3,685,829 Barlow [451 Aug. 22, 1 972 BALL LAUNCI 'HNG GAME HAVING Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham COMMON TARGET APERTURES [72] Inventor: Gordon A. Barlow, Evanston, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass Associates,

[22] Filed: Sept. 11, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 71,544

52 us. Cl. ..273/101, 273/95 R [51] Int. Cl. .L- ..A63b 71/04' [58] Field of Search.....273/95 R, 101, 102 R, 105 R, 273/85 E, 119

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,231,277 1/1966 Holland ..273/1o1 2,735,682 2/1956 Sweet ..'....273/85 E 1,827,885 10/1931 Emenhiser ..273/l01 3,108,808 10/1963 Peterson ..273/l01 2,959,415 11/1960 Peterson ..273/95 R Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & Mc- Cord ABSTRACT A skill type game which includes a pair of spaced launching devices selectively operable by individual players of the game for propelling a plurality of objects either individually or simultaneously outwardly therefrom toward the other launching vdevice. Each launching device has positions for receiving a plurality of objects, such as spherical projectiles, the positions defining home positions for the other launching device whereby the object of the game may be to accumulate all of the objects at the other players launching position. A barrier, such as a wall, is disposed between the launching devices, the wall having a plurality of openings to restrict the number of objects which can pass therethrough at any one time. The openings are less in number than the total number of objects capable of being propelled by both of the launching devices at any one time.

5 ePr l z a rea BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a skill type game designed for the entertainment of the player, and for developing dexterity, timing and coordination for the individual player, as well as competition between a plurality of players.

There are various entertaining games presently available which have projectiles of various sizes and shapes which are projected toward target areas. A plurality of receivingpositions are provided for the projectiles, and normally providing means for scoring the game. Still other games have projectiles which are propelled toward home or receiving positions randomly spaced and variably scored to provide an entertaining game. Most games of the later-type are played primarily on the principal of chance. Such games are provided for educational or competitive purposes, or solely as entertainment devices. The game of the present invention is a skill type game wherein the propelled objects or projectiles are propelled by the players of the game through a restricted path toward a home position for each player. In order to win the game, each player has to propel his entire alotment of projectiles through the restriction before the other player.

A principal object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a new skill type game of the character described.

Another object of the invention is to provide a skill type game which includes at least two spaced launching devices selectively operable by individual players of the game for propelling objects outwardly therefrom, and means defining a home position for each of the launching devices spaced therefrom for receiving propelled objects launched thereby. A path for the objects is defined between each launching device and its respective home position through which the objects are propelled by the launching device, with a portion of each of the paths being coincidental to the other. A restriction is formed in the coincidental portion of the two paths to limit the number of objects which can pass therethrough at any one time, thereby requiring each player to time his actions in actuating his launching device so that his propelled objects are not blocked by the other player or, defensively, to block the other players shots.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the game is a self-contained unit and includes only two launching devices spaced apart and adapted to propel objects or projectiles outwardly therefrom from one launching device toward to other. A generally hollow housing is provided extending between the two launching devices within which the objects are propelled, sometimes ricocheted, from one launching device toward the other. A wall spans the interior of the housing generally perpendicular to a line passing through the launching devices and equidistant therebetween. The wall has at least one opening for the passage of objects therethrough. Each launching device has means for positioning objects for launching therefrom, the positioning means for one launching device defining the home positions for the objects 2 propelled by the other launching device whereby the object of the game may be to-accurnulate all of the objects at the other players launching position. At' least a portion of the housing preferably is transparent to permit observation of the objects within the housing.

Preferably, each launching device is capable of propelling a plurality of objects either individually or simultaneously toward the other launching device. The wall has a plurality of openings less in number than the total number of objects capable of being propelled by both of the launching devices at any one time. The objects or projectiles preferably are spherical in shape and the housing includes a floor portion slanting downwardly from the restricting wall toward the launching devices so that objects striking the wall will return by gravity back along the floor portion to the launching devices. 7

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings includes a generally hollow housing, generally designated 10, having a base portion 10a and a cover portion 10b. The housing 10 generally is elongated, and a pair of launching devices, generally designated 12, are provided at opposite ends of the housing selectively operable by individual players of the game for propelling objects 14 outwardly therefrom within the housing 10, as will be more readily apparent hereinafter. The objects 14 preferably are spherical and hollow, such as like a ping-pong ball. The cover portion 10b preferably is transparent to permit observation of the movement of the balls 14.

Before going into the details of the launching devices and other facets of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be pointed out that the invention contemplates a plurality of launching devices for propelling objects outwardly therefrom along a path from each device toward a home position, with at least a portion of each of the paths from the launching devices to their respective home positions being coincidental, and with means in the coincidental portions of the paths to restrict the number of objects which can pass therethrough at any one time. In the preferred form of the invention shown herein, only two launching devices 12 are provided, with positioning means for the propelled objects or balls at each launching device defining the home positions for the balls propelled by the other launching device, whereby the object of the game may be to accumulate all of the objects at the other players launching position. However, it is to be understood that this form of the invention is but a preferred form.

I In addition, before going into the details of the launching devices, it should be understood that the launching devices preferably .are adapted so as to be capable of propelling a plurality of objects or balls 14 I either individually or simultaneously toward the opponents launching device. The housing has a wall 16 spanning the interior thereof generally equidistant from the launching devices 12 and generally perpendicular to a linepassing through the launching devices. The

. wall .16 has a plurality of openings 18 for the passage of the balls. 14 therethrough whenpropelled from either of thelaunching devices. The number of openings 18 through the wall 16 preferablyis less in number than the total number of objects capable of being propelled by both of thelaunching devices 12 at one time. As will be describedin greater detail hereinafter, the wall 16 is positioned in a slot 20 (FIG. 2) through the top of the housing 10 so that the wall may be removed to restart the game once one player is successful in accumulating all of the balls on the other players side of the wall 16.

Each launching device 12'includes a plurality of portion 10a to provide means to launch or propel the balls 14 toward the wall 16 of thehousing. The housing basefportion has a bottom wall 32 on the underside thereof defining a floor portion which is slanted downwardly from the wall 16 toward the launching levers 22, as best seen in FIG. 2. A plurality of holes 34, one for each of the launching levers 22, are formed in the wall 32 at the lowermost area thereof for receiving and positioning the spherical objects 14 for launching by the levers 22. The bottom wall 32 of the housing slants upwardly on the opposite side of the holes 34, as at 36 in FIG. 2, and a plurality of upstanding pins 38 are provided between the holes 34and at the corners of the wall portion 36. These pins insure that the balls 14 will seat in the holes 34. As best seen in FIG. 2, the holes 34 have a lesser diameter than the diameter of the balls 14 so that the balls seat in the holes 34 and extend below the bottom wall 32, as bestseen by the circular. dotdash line in FIG. 2. Thus, and referring particularly to FIG. 2,a-depressing force on the launching levers 22 in the direction of arrow 'A (FIG. 2) will cause the launching levers to pivot about shaft 24 and the inner nds 22a of the launching levers will strike the underside of the balls 14which are seated in the holes 34 for the respective launching levers. The balls thereby will be propelled upwardly and outwardly therefrom toward the wall 16 and toward the other players side of the wall 16. The balls may be propelled directly at the openings 18 or ricocheted ofl of the interior-of the the respective players side of the wall 16. The wall Y then may be repositioned and'the' game replayed. The illustrated embodiment includes a total of four balls 14,-

housing, depending upon the amount of striking force exerted on the underside of the balls. The halls may be propelled either individually by depressing a single lever 22 which has a ball 14 seated in its respective hole 14, or a plurality of balls may be propelled by simultaneously depressing more than one lever having balls properly positioned therefor.

As'best seen in FIG. 3, a rubber band 40 is wrapped around a pair of pegs 42 depending from the underside of the bottom wall 32 of thehousing. A pair of ribs 44 spaces the rubber band from theunderside of the bottom wall 32 with the rubber band overlying the launching levers 22 (FIG. 2). The rubber band biases the launching levers 22 back to shown by full linesin FIG. 2.

From the above description, it is apparent that the home position for each player actually is the launching position for the other player, on the opposite side of the wall 16, and the object of the game may be to accumulate all of the balls 14 on' the side of the wall 16 opposite the respective players launching position 12.

As stated above, the wall 16 is removable so as to facilitate restarting the game. More particularly, the 1 wall 16 may be lifted in the direction of arrow B (FIG.

2) and the balls 14may be divided,- with half of the number thereof alotted to each player and disposed on and the launching devices each include three levers 22.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for a game board having two opposing playing areas each having at least one launching station for receiving at least one of said launchable objects; upright wall means mounted between the playing areas for providing a barrier therebetween and in cluding a plurality of target apertures formed in the wall means through which said objects may be propelled through the 'air'between the playing areas, said target apertures being of a size whereby only one of said launchable objects is able to pass therethrough at one time; and

selectively operable launching means at each launching station for propelling, objects therefrom through the air towards one of the target apertures.

for landing in the opposite playing area. 2. The game of claim 1 wherein said 'launchingmeans is capable of propelling a plurality of objectseither individually or simultaneously toward the target apertures.

3. The game of claim 1 including a generally hollow,

transparent housing extending over the two playing areas providing an enclosure therefor.

4. The game of claim 1 wherein each playing area has I a floor portion slanting downwardlyfrom said wall means toward the launching stations whereby propelled objects landing on said floor will be directed,

by gravity to the launching stations.

5. A skill type game comprising: v

a game board having two opposing'adjoining playin areas and a plurality of launching stations in each playing area for receiving a plurality of launchable objects, said launching stations being disposed so; as to define a plurality of opposing pairs of launching stations one station of each pair thereof being disposed in each of said playing areas; upright wall means mounted between the playing areas for providing a barrier therebetween and intheir cocked positions a plurality of selectively operable launching devices,

each launching device being disposed at one of said launching stations, said launching devices being independently operable to propel a plurality of objects either individually or simultaneously from the launching stations through the vair towards their corresponding target apertures for landing in the opposite playing area. 

1. A skill game comprising in combination: a plurality of launchable objects; a game board having two opposing playing areas each having at least one launching station for receiving at least one of said launchable objects; upright wall means mounted between the playing areas for providing a barrier therebetween and including a plurality of target apertures formed in the wall means through which said objects may be propelled through the air between the playing areas, said target apertures being of a size whereby only one of said launchable objects is able to pass therethrough at one time; and selectively operable launching means at each launching station for propelling objects therefrom through the air towards one of the target apertures for landing in the opposite playing area.
 2. The game of claim 1 wherein said launching means is capable of propelling a plurality of objects either individually or simultaneously toward the target apertures.
 3. The game of claim 1 including a generally hollow, transparent housing extending over the two playing areas providing an enclosure therefor.
 4. The game of claim 1 wherein each playing area has a floor portion slanting downwardly from said wall means toward the launching stations whereby propelled objects landing on said floor will be directed by gravity to the launching stations.
 5. A skill type game comprising: a game board having two opposing adjoining playing areas and a plurality of launching stations in each playing area for receiving a plurality of launchable objects, said launching stations being disposed so as to define a plurality of opposing pairs of launching stations one station of each pair thereof being disposed in each of said playing areas; upright wall means mounted between the playing areas for providing a barrier therebetween and including a plurality of target apertures formed in the wall means through which objects may be propelled through the air between the playing areas, said target apertures being equal in number to the number of opposing pairs of launching stations, each aperture corresponding to a respective one of said pairs of launching stations and being of a size whereby only one object is able to pass therethrough at one time; and a plurality of selectively operable launching devices, each launching device being disposed at one of said launching stations, said launching devices being independently operable to propel a plurality of objects either individually or simultaneously from the launching stations through the air towards their corresponding target apertures for landing in the opposite playing area. 